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OneWeb 1, ..., 900

OneWeb, formerly known as WorldVu, is a planned satellite constellation consisting of 648 microsatellites to provide world wide internet access for on individual consumers and airlines.

The current design of the OneWeb satellite network consists of 648 micro satellites of about 125 kg operating in 1200 km orbits. Each satellite is capable of delivering at least 8 gigabits per second of throughput to provide Internet access to homes and mobile platforms using its high throughput Ku-band payload.

OneWeb will order about 900 satellites, at a price targeted below USD 500000 per satellite. Five companies, Airbus Defence and Space, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, OHB AG, SSL and Thales Alenia Space, have submitted bids. Airbus was selected as the manufacturer in June 2015. The satellites will have a design life of seven years or more.

Virgin is an investor to the project, which will provide launch services on their planned LauncherOne rocket. Another investor is Qualcomm Inc.

Airbus Defence and Space was selected to build the ~900 satellites. The first ten will be built at Toulouse, France, while the remainder will be built at a dedicated factory in the USA. In January 2016, Airbus Defence and Space and OneWeb created the 50/50 joint venture OneWeb Satelites to build the satellites. RUAG Switzerland will build the mechanical skeletal structures of the satellites.

OneWeb satellites will be launched into a near polar orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers before raising themselves on their onboard electric propulsion to their operational orbit. The first launch is planned for late 2018. In June 2016, OneWeb signed a contract with Arianespace for 21 Soyuz rockets (unclear, which version) will launch clusters of about 32 of these satellites from Kourou, Baikonur and possibly also Plsetsk. There are five more options for Soyuz launches and three options for Ariane-6 launches. Another contract with Virgin Galactic is for 39 launches on LauncherOne air launched rockets, with options for 100 more launches. In March 2017 an agreement for five launches of the New Glenn rocket was made.